FIVE COUNTRIES IN SIX HOURS

It was time to go and check out the supplies of beer in a few European countries, due to the imminent arrival of the so-called ´low season´ in the Philippines. In actual fact, the weather in that country can be great during the summer months and there aren´t nearly as many tourists around to clutter the place up.

Chris Bodders, who seems to have motorbikes available for me wherever I go, told me to go to England and use his big black Triumph 900 to inspect the bier kellars of northern Europe.

The above photo shows the departure from Dover on the way to Dunkerque, which is a great little town very close to the Belgian border. Norfolkline Ferries do an amazing deal for bikes at a flat rate of 18 GBP including 2 people for the almost 2 hour crossing, sailings every 2 hours!

A beer on the ferry and a close encounter with a container ship, prepared me mentally for the trip ahead.

Unfortunately, due to the distance, I had to scoot through France, Belgium and Holland on the motorways, although I can say that fuel got a little cheaper across the Channel.

Versen is a pretty little village in Emsland, Geramany, a few kilometres from the Dutch border. Huge wind generators abound in this region, and it´s famous for the many old windmills dotted around the area. I was to stay in the Millers house adjoining the old windmill and await the arrival of a good friend, Juergen, who also owns the lovely resort of Club Paradise. In the meantime, I had a few days alone to get over the stress of being in England!

Unfortunately there was no beer in the fridge, and I only just caught the village Spar shop before it closed, and so, emptied their chiller of its´beer contents.

The next few days were spent enjoying the weather, which had been great for a week or so, and the countryside of Emsland, the towns of Meppen and Lingen and the coastline of the North Sea.

Midsummer was approaching and I was expected for the celebrations. I got the idea that it was only 4-500 kms from Versen to Laholm in south west Sweden-it was over 700! However, Concepcion Mike and Liz were waiting for me with a fridge full of beer when I arrived a 4.30 pm to stay a few days in a caravan lent by friend Tomas.

The highlight of the next few days was going to a nice hotel on the coast at Tylosand and having a buffet dinner in a nearby bar while watching the England-Sweden football match. Stefan - Cellplast Direkt - kindly picked up the bill for about 24 of us for the whole operation, thank-you! We were all given Swedish football shirts, and I became Canadian for the night in case UK won the match. I think I was the only Englishman amongst 400 Swedes......

Beer is VERY expensive in Sweden, at about 3-4 GBP each in a decent bar! Needless to say, most people drink at home and they try to get the beer from people who seem to bring in tons of it from Germany at a much lower cost. A really good deal is on the ferry from Germany to Denmark or Sweden, where you can buy a case of 24 for 10 Euros. If you´re in a car then stock up with as much as you can, if you can´t drink it all, then everyone else will.

Next stop was the house of Arne and Didi about 150 kms north to the East of Gothenburg, outside a very pretty town called Alingsas. This is a lovely area, with lakes and small villages out in the countryside, with cows and loads of horses in the fields.

Somehow, Arne and Didi entertained up to 22 people for the next few days, friends and family from UK, Maldives,Norway, Switzerland, Germany and the Philippines! Arne has a catamaran in the same anchorage as my boat in the P.I. so we caught up on what happened during the typhoon when his boat went walkabout, but survived with no damage.

Midsummer was celebrated in lovely sunshine at an old country estate called Naas Slott a little distance away, where a large pole is erected and everyone dances around it, the girls with flowers in their hair, and the guys with beers in their hands, actually, I think I was the only one, thanks Anders and Torbjorn for bringing them!!

Next few days the weather turned cold and cloudy but we could still use the cars for outings and dinners and trips to the local pub. The islands north of Gothenburg are wonderful places to discover, as I did on my last day with the sun coming back to warm us up again. The roads are great and small ferries transport you from one islnd to the next, free of charge, and around each bend a new vista of water, bays, small marinas and little villages opens up. It is really a beautiful area. Maybe it´s a little different in mid winter?? You could easily spend a week touring this area and I was sorry I had to head south the next day.

Next stop was an overnight with Soren and Gitte in Copenhagen, people who I´d met in El Rio y Mar Resort in the P.I. I was very happy to break my journey back to Bremen and catch up with them. They have a lovely apartment, but unfortunately I couldn´t see much of Copenhagen since I was there for only 12 hours, next year maybe, I can take a picture of the Mermaid...

600kms in 7 hours, and here I am in Bremen, a lovely small city surrounding beautiful parks, with cobbled streets and a long history. Staying with Juergens´family, Ellen and Ralph and the kids and swapping the big Tiger 900 for a bicycle today to explore the town with the family. Beautiful weather and beautiful friends. This trip is just what I need, and it will go on for a few more weeks I´m sure, birthday party in Hamburg in 3 days time!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photos on next blog!!